AHL cancels remainder of 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19 pandemic

The AHL is canceling the remainder of its 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The American Hockey League, the primary developmental league for the NHL, announced on Monday that the remainder of the 2019-2020 season will be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made by the AHL board of governors and announced in a statement from AHL president and CEO David Andrews.

The AHL Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 AHL regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.

The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The AHL, which runs October-April with playoffs lasting through early June, originally suspended play on March 12. The standings on that day will be frozen and sorted by points percentage to determine the final standings and awards for the season.

The AHL has been in continuous operation since 1936-1937. This will be the first year in its history that the Calder Cup, the league’s championship trophy, will not be awarded.